Stockton Auto Repair

Wondering if your hybrid car needs a new battery? Here are signs you should look for. Hybrid vehicles offer a blend of gasoline and electric power, but their batteries can wear out over time. Here's how to tell if it's time for a replacement without breaking a sweat. Hybrid Car Batteries Before we get to the signs, it's essential to understand hybrid car batteries. Unlike traditional vehicles, hybrids rely on both gasoline engines and electric motors. The battery pack is the heart of the hybrid system, storing and supplying electricity to the electric motor. Typically, hybrid batteries are designed to last for several years, but like any other component, they can degrade over time. Signs That Your Hybrid Car Battery Needs Replacement: Decreased Fuel Efficiency One of the telltale signs of a failing hybrid battery is a noticeable drop in fuel efficiency. If you find yourself making more frequent trips to the gas station despite maintain ... read more

At Toole’s Garage Stockton we offer comprehensive automotive services including brake calipers service and replacement. Brake calipers are an integral part of the braking system. They press the brake pads against the rotors to generate the friction that slows down, and ultimately, stops your vehicle. Brake calipers are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle – that is unless something happens that causes them to not function at the optimal level. In some cases, service will include cleaning and lubrication, but in other cases brake caliper replacement will be the right solution. Some symptoms that may indicate brake caliper problem include: Car pulls to one side Leaking brake fluid Uneven brake wear Strange noise when braking   So if your vehicle exhibits any of these symptoms, bring it to Toole’s Garage Stockton for a professional brake inspection. Our technicians are certified b ... read more

Imagine a world without catalytic converters—where harmful emissions from vehicles pollute the air we breathe unchecked. Fortunately, catalytic converters are crucial in reducing harmful pollutants emitted by vehicles, making them an indispensable component of modern automotive technology. What is a Catalytic Converter? At its core, a catalytic converter is a device installed in the exhaust system of vehicles to reduce harmful emissions by converting toxic gasses into less harmful substances through chemical reactions. These reactions take place within the converter's honeycomb-like structure, which contains precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. How Does a Catalytic Converter Work? The catalytic converter operates through a series of chemical reactions known as redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions. When exhaust gasses containing pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) pass ... read more

When your Acura computer displays “A” service code, is it really just oil change? Well… yes and no. Yes, “A” service does mean oil change, but with oil change also comes oil filter change. And then there are additional modifications – digits that follow the code. They tell us what additional maintenance items or inspections are to be performed. Code A1 means oil change, oil filter change, tire pressure check and tire rotation. Code A2 means not just oil change and oil filter change, but also replacing dust and pollen filter, and checking driving belt. Code A3 ads transfer fluid and transmission fluid (where applicable) replacement to the oil and oil filter change. Code A4 is the big one – in addition to oil and filter change, it also indicates spark plugs replacement, as well as valve clearance inspection, water pump inspection and timing belt replacement (when replacing timing belt, we also recommend replacing the water pump). Code A5 me ... read more

Continental is a household name in the tire industry – it offers tires for  not only for passenger cars, vans and pickups, but also for motorcycles, commercial trucks and even industrial equipment. Continental also happens to be one of the most popular tires in California. Our Stockton auto care facility offers extensive selection of Continental tires to the residents of Stockton, Lathrop, French Camp and Lodi. Whether your vehicle needs a full set of tires, a pair, or just one tire, we are happy to be of service. Continental continues to invest in tire development, and tests its designs by partnering with Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group, and BMW, producing racing tires. Having tested their tires under the extreme racing conditions, Continental can confidently offer passenger vehicle, van and pickup tires to the general public. Toole’s Garage Stockton offers a friendly tire buying experience, along with full range of automotive maintenance services and repairs. Conti ... read more

For any owner of the Ultimate Driving Machine, Toole’s Garage in Stockton will be a welcome change from the dealership experience.  Our friendly service advisors will take the time to answer your questions, and to set up an appointment that fits your schedule. For your convenience we also offer local shuttle, and all services and repairs performed on your BMW are covered by our nationwide 36 month / 36,000 mile warranty. Whether your BMW needs regular service, check engine light diagnostics, oil leak repair or is facing major engine problems, our highly skilled technicians, certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) will use state-of-the-art digital diagnostic tools to find the root cause of any problems your vehicle may exhibit. Once we know the root cause, we will provide you with a written estimate of the needed repairs – whether you drive BMW M3, BMW 330i, 528i, BMW X5 or Z4, we will take great care of your vehicle. If you own a cl ... read more

Mini Cooper vehicles are fun to drive but they’ve been known to develop oil leaks. At Toole’s Garage Stockton we offer complete Mini Cooper services including oil leak repair. So how can you tell if your Mini is leaking oil? Oil spots in the garage or on the driveway are, obviously, a dead giveaway (check that it’s oil, not just water from the ac system condensation). But monitoring oil level is also a good practice. If you notice that you have to add engine oil between regular oil changes, it may indicate an oil leak – let your mechanic know at the next oil change. If the oil is leaking on the engine part that gets hot, you may smell a strong, pungent odor from the engine area. If you notice any of these symptoms, let us know when you bring your Mini for a checkup. Common Areas/Causes of Mini Cooper Oil Leaks Damaged components, like O-rings or valve cover gasket are prime suspects when it comes to oil leaks. Worn out seals, like the crankshaft seal, could ... read more

Prius vehicles are famous for their reliability and low maintenance costs. But there is one Prius repair that you are likely to encounter if you own a Prius - water pump replacement. At Toole's Garage Stockton we offer full range of Prius and hybrid services and repairs, including water pump replacement. Prius vehicles have multiple water pumps, and given that a typical Prius can last for over 300,000 miles with proper maintenance, there is a high probability that water pump replacement will be in the cards. At Toole's Garage in Stockton we offer comprehensive Prius services, including diagnostics and repairs. So if your Prius exhibits symptoms that make you uneasy, bring it to our Stockton auto care facility, and our nationally ASE certified technicians will make your Prius well again. Whether your Prius needs inverter coolant pump replacement, or the heater core pump is failing, or the engine water pump needs to be replaced - our technicians will diagnose the problem and ge ... read more

Toole's Garage Stockton offers not only a full gamut of automotive services and repairs, but we also offer new tires, including Michelin tires - a perennial bestseller across California. It's hard to believe that Michelin tires have been manufactured for over one hundred and thirty years - yes, they have been around since 1889. And what we consider a modern, air-filled tire - well, Michelin has been offering those since 1895. So it's not surprising that Michelin is the second largest tire manufacturer in the world. If you are considering Michelin tires, your choices are plentiful indeed. We offer performance touring tires, high performance tires, light truck tires, SUV tires, minivan tires, as well as a variety of winter tires. Let us know what kind of driving you do, and we will match the tires to your driving style, vehicle, and typical road conditions. If you drive a Tesla, we offer Michelin Tesla tires as well. So when your vehicle needs new tires, call Toole's G ... read more

Toole's Garage is the premier hybrid repair shop in Stockton, so it's only natural that we service and repair a lot of Prius vehicles. We are big fans - that's for sure. Properly maintained Prius can easily go 300,000 miles or more. During that time it may need inverter replacement. Prius inverters have had their share of problems, and a while back Toyota even issues a recall for inverter related issues. Many vehicles had the work completed, but many may have sustained thermal damage before the recall was issued. As a result, these inverters may have to be replaced. This is in addition to inverter failure due to age and use - an event that is to be expected due to the longevity of Prius vehicles. Typical symptoms that may indicate possible inverter failure include power steering warning turning "on" as well as hybrid system warning. Our nationally ASE certified technicians can diagnose these warnings and let you know if the inverter is indeed the cause of these ... read more